- Joined
- Nov 21, 2016
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Minish is pretty much like Giada and she tends to gain a lot of weight if I give in to demands or free feed. I think 2 reasons: food deprivation before I found her and boredom.
My experience:
-6 to 8 small portions per day:I ended up with her asking for food 12 to 16 times per day. So I switched back to 3 meals. Now she asks 6 times per day.
-finding ways to make her feel full:adding warm water to wet food works well. If I dilute it too much she protests and keeps asking for the other food.
-making her eat slower:spreading wet food on a large dish and giving kibble in a toy or throwing it one by one.
-no treats when she asks. Occasional treats and not everyday so that it becomes her right.
-keeping a sharp schedule of meals:she starts asking for food an hour before her mealtime. I say better than 2 hours before..
-being the only one that feeds her as long as I'm at home. She stopped nagging my boyfriend and tricking me with her theatrics half an hour after being fed by him.
-offering alternative attention when she asks for food:I follow her to the kitchen and run back staring a game of chase. I scoop her up and kiss her belly (she hates being scooped up but she can't protest since she got the attention). I talk sweet words. I throw toys around.
None of these solved the issue. But she gives up nagging me sooner than before. Takes a nap before asking for food again.
In the end, if Giada is healthy, ignore the unnecessary demands and don't give in.
My experience:
-6 to 8 small portions per day:I ended up with her asking for food 12 to 16 times per day. So I switched back to 3 meals. Now she asks 6 times per day.
-finding ways to make her feel full:adding warm water to wet food works well. If I dilute it too much she protests and keeps asking for the other food.
-making her eat slower:spreading wet food on a large dish and giving kibble in a toy or throwing it one by one.
-no treats when she asks. Occasional treats and not everyday so that it becomes her right.
-keeping a sharp schedule of meals:she starts asking for food an hour before her mealtime. I say better than 2 hours before..
-being the only one that feeds her as long as I'm at home. She stopped nagging my boyfriend and tricking me with her theatrics half an hour after being fed by him.
-offering alternative attention when she asks for food:I follow her to the kitchen and run back staring a game of chase. I scoop her up and kiss her belly (she hates being scooped up but she can't protest since she got the attention). I talk sweet words. I throw toys around.
None of these solved the issue. But she gives up nagging me sooner than before. Takes a nap before asking for food again.
In the end, if Giada is healthy, ignore the unnecessary demands and don't give in.